MIKE BROWN: Mahoning Valley baseball teams have had a rich history
Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties schools boast rich histories in many sports and one of those has undoubtedly been on the baseball diamond.
I wanted to learn just how unique baseball has been to schools from the Mahoning Valley and outlying area over the years. So, I went back into the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Ohio baseball history section recently to find out firsthand.
Mahoning Valley baseball teams have shined through the years
I knew the Mahoning Valley had its share of teams that had advanced to state, but I didn’t realize how many. As the hours passed in my research, I was blown away by the number of area teams that have punched tickets to state — and even more impressed by how many returned home with a state title and runner-up trophies.
Twenty-three schools from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties have advanced to the state baseball tournament — many of them have accomplished that feat on multiple occasions.
Ursuline baseball team has made it to state eight times
In Mahoning County, Youngstown Ursuline is the leader in the clubhouse, having advanced to state eight different times, including 1984, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2013.
Here are the other Mahoning County Schools to qualify for the state baseball tourney and the number of times they have done that include Springfield (six times, including 1930, 1980, 1994, 2009, 2011 and 2013): Boardman (four occasions in 1967, 1981, 1991, 2001), Austintown Fitch (four times in 1977, 1978, 1983, 1994), Campbell Memorial (four times, including 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999), Poland (three times, including 1983, 2015, 2016); Canfield (three times in 1998, 2004, 2007); Youngstown Chaney (twice in 1975, 1976): Western Reserve (twice in 2014, 2015), Struthers (once in 1973), West Branch (once in 1972), South Range (once in 2018) and Youngstown East (once in 1950).
Warren Harding and LaBrae have qualified four times
In Trumbull County, Warren Harding and Leavittsburg, which later became LaBrae, lead the way with four separate appearances in the state baseball tournament. Harding qualified for state in 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1948, while the Vikings advanced in 1938, 1943, 1945 and 1946.
Other Trumbull County Schools and their number of appearances in the state baseball tourney include Warren Champion (three times, including 1971, 2005, 2017), Niles McKinley (once in 1962), Warren Howland (once in 1952), McDonald (once in 1997), Warren JFK (once in 2021) and the former Warren Western Reserve (once in 1971).
In Columbiana County, just two schools hold the distinction of advancing to the state tourney in baseball, including East Liverpool (twice in 1956 and 1969) and Columbiana (2010).
Nine Mahoning Valley teams have won state titles
Of the 23 schools that have advanced to state, nine area teams have returned home with state titles, including five from Mahoning County and four from Trumbull County. Of those 23 schools, nine others have claimed state runner-up trophies.
Youngstown Ursuline leads the best in Mahoning County, having claimed state championships in 1999 and 2000.
The Campbell Memorial Red Devils were crowned state champions in 1993, while Canfield won in 2007.
The most recent state baseball crown captured by a Mahoning County school is South Range, the best in Ohio, winning the D3 state crown in 2018.
In Trumbull County, there have been four state baseball champions.
Leavittsburg won the state title in 1943, while Warren Harding captured the big school state crown in 1933.
More recently, Champion won the state baseball title in 2017 (the same year its softball team duplicated that feat). The most recent state champion from Trumbull County is Warren JFK, which captured a state championship in 2021.
Columbiana County has never had an OHSAA state champion in baseball, but East Liverpool was a state runner-up in 1969.
The area has enjoyed many state runner-up finishes. From Mahoning County, runner-up trophies were earned by Springfield (in 1980, 2009, 2011 and 2013), Campbell Memorial (twice in 1994 and 1995), Youngstown Ursuline (twice in 2001 and 2006), Boardman (twice in 1967 and 1991)
Youngstown Chaney (1976), Poland (2015), Austintown Fitch (1983), West Branch (1972) and Western Reserve (2015).
State runner-ups from Trumbull County include Warren Harding (twice in 1934 and 1938), Niles McKinley (1992) and Warren Howland (1952).
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